Many moons ago, when I was a student at UCL with big hair and unstraightened teeth, I worked evenings at Dillons bookstore on Gower Street. I still remember how sweet Tracey Thorn was when she came to my till with a copy of 'The Satanic Verses' (that dates it for you) and the thrill of making announcements over the PA system ('The store will be closing in fifteen minutes...'). Oh, and the dismay of being on Medical Books in the basement, which meant queues up the stairs and staying late to cash up the millions instead of escaping to the pub. Well, the site is now a Waterstones, a big, beautiful branch filled with staff and customers far better read than I ever was, and I returned yesterday as a Books of the Month author to sign copies of 'Our House' and coo over their displays. It felt good, really good. One of the special days. It also struck me as making the perfect yah boo sucks blog post to my enemies, but I've been wracking my brains and I can't think of a single enemy. So I guess the road from then to now has been smoother than I thought.

I have big news! OUR HOUSE is out in the UK in paperback today, earlier than planned, and is Waterstones’ Thriller Book of the Month for September! Over the years, I’ve really come to trust the Waterstones booksellers’ picks and often stopped to admire the beautiful and creative displays in their windows. And now mine is one of the chosen ones! I’m so proud that Waterstones have picked OUR HOUSE for September and very grateful for my brilliant publisher Simon & Schuster for making it happen. I can’t wait to hear what Waterstones customers think of Bram and Fi and the ungodly mess they get themselves (and their house) into…